Pile jacket



E. T. MILLER Feb. l, 1955 PILE JACKET Filed 001'..

Edward T. Miller INVENTOR. wledl5 8. @www AGENT United States Patent O PILE JACKET Edward T. Miller, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 6, 1948, Serial No. 53,106

1S Claims. (Cl. 61-53) This invention relates to piles and relates more particularly to a pile jacket.

Where piles are driven into ground having a hard or impenetrable formation or strata sufficiently near the surface such that the bottom of the pile rests upon this formation, the greater portion, if not the entire portion, of the weight load of the pile is borne by the upward thrust provided by the contact of the pile with the hard or impenetrable formation. Further, when it is desired to pull such piles from the ground for replacement or salvage, the upward pulling force required will be only a fraction or an insignificant portion of the weight load carried by the piles due to the fact that adhesion be* tween the bottom portion of the pile and the formation will be slight or entirely absent. On the other hand, where piles are driven into relatively soft or mucky ground, such as in marshes or, more particularly, in underwater bottoms such as beds of lakes, rivers, bays, or gulfs, practically the entire weight load of the pile must be borne by the upward thrust or resistance to downward forces provided by the pressure or the soft or mucky ground against the surfaces of the piles. Therefore, when it is desired to pull the piles from such ground, the upward pulling force required will be at least equal to the weight load carried by the pile, but, in most cases, will be greater due to the fact that, to provide a proper margin of safety, the piles are driven to greater depths than are required to bear the weight load. Since the weight load, including the margin of safety, may be greater than on hundred tons, heavy and cumbersome equipment is required to pull the piles even when high velocity jets of water are used to assist in loosening the piles and frequently the load is too great to permit pulling, necessitating abandonment or destruction of the piles.

lt is an object of this invention to enable piles to be salvaged. It is another object of this invention to enable piles to be pulled from soft or mucky ground with pulling forces less than the weight load of the piles. It is another object of this invention to enable piles to support greater Weight loads in soft or mucky grounds. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof.

In accordance with the invention, a pile, before being driven into position, is provided at the lower, or driven end, with a jacket extending upwardly along the pile. By driven end or driving end of the pile, I mean that end of the pile which penetrates into the ground. The jacket may t snugly, although not tightly, against the pile and, preferably, a coating of mastic, or other suitable type of substantially soft, pasty material having non-cementing properties, is provided between the jacket and the pile.

The lower portion of the jacket, at the driven end of the pile, is shaped with respect to the shape of the driven end of the pile, as by lapping the jacket overthe end of the pile, so that the driving force applied to the pile will be transmitted directly to the jacket, forcing the jacket into the ground along with the pile. By providing such a jacket, the weight load of the pile, or any desired portion thereof depending upon the length of the jacket will be borne by the shaped bottom of the jacket contacting the pile, and the weight load on the jacket will, in turn, be borne by the upward thrust, or resistance to downward forces, provided by the pressure of the ground against the surface area of the jacket contacting the ground. Accordingly, when it is desired to pull the pile from the ground, the pulling force required will be only 2,700,875 Patented Feb. l, 1955 that necessary to overcome adherence of the jacket to the pile plus any pulling force necessary to overcome the pressure of the ground contacting any portion or' the pile not covered by the sleeve. By the use or' soft material, the pulling torce necessary to overcome adherence ot' the jacket to the pile will be at a minimum, and the pulling torce necessary to overcome the pressure of the ground on any portion of the pile not covered by the jacket may, by selection of tue length of the jacket, be governed as desired.

The surfaces of the jacket contacting the ground may be roughened, as by pitting, coarse sand-blasting, or by providing protuberances thereon to provide greater friction between the jacket and the ground, whereby, for a given length of jacket and a given pressure of ground, a greater weight load may be supported.

The jacket may be or' any suitable material. However, it is preferred that the jacket be of metal, such as high tensile strength steel. The piles, in conjunction with which the jackets are to be used, may be of any suitable material but the jacket is preferably employed in conjunction with metal piles. Piles are ordinarily massive and, by virtue of massiveness, costly. The jackets, on the other hand, are relatively less massive and correspondingly less costly. Thus, by the invention, the relatively costly piles may be recovered or salvaged by pulling from the ground with the loss, by remaining in the ground, of only the relatively less costly jackets.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are designated by like numerals.

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of a pile provided with a jacket;

Figure 2 is a section along the line A-A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation in section of a tubular pile provided with another form of jacket;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the pile and jacket of Figure l in their underground position;

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of another type of pile provided with a jacket;

Figure 6 is a section along the line B--B of Figure 5;

Figure 7is an elevation of another type of pile provided with a jacket;

igure 8 is a section along the line C-C of Figure 7; an

Figure 9 is a section along the line D-D of Figure 8 showing a method of joining two sections of the jacket of Figure 7.

Referring now to Figure l, tubular pile 10 is provided at its lower end with jacket 11. The jacket 11, consisting of a sleeve, extends inwardly at the lower lip 12 of the pile and upwardly through the open end of the pile to form a cup 14 whereby the pile, as it is driven into the ground, will force the jacket along with it. To prevent the jacket 11 from becoming disengaged from the pile 10 prior to being driven into the ground, and thereby facilitate handling, tack welds 15 may be provided. These welds should be light, however, in order that they may readily break upon application of upward pulling pressure when the pile is pulled from the ground. Where the pile is of wood, or other electrically nonconducting material, light nails 16 as shown in Figure 5, readily breaking when the pile is pulled, may be substituted for the welds 15. The jacket, as shown, may be formed from metal sheeting lapped or otherwise handled to form a cylinder fitting over the pile 10, and the cup 14 may be formed by swaging or other suitable procedure. A layer 20 of mastic is provided between the jacket and the pile and may suitably be provided by painting or spraying the outer surface, and the inner surface at the lower end, of the pile with the material.

The jacket 11 may be of any desired length. For eX- ample, the jacket may be the same length as the distance to which the pile is to be driven into the ground. However, the length of the jacket may be any desired fraction of the length to which the pile is driven into the ground, in which case the pulling force required to pull the pile from the ground will be proportional to the length of that portion of the pile driven into the ground not covered by the jacket. In some cases, this will be desirable, as, for example, where the pile may be subjected to upward pulling forces during normal use and yet the pile must be maintained in position. Such cases occur, for example, where the pile supports an overwater platform which may be buoyed or forced upwardly in the event of unexpectedly high tides, high waves, high winds, etc. Generally, satisfactory results will be obtained where the length of the jacket is not greater than about onehalf of the depth of penetration.

Since, when the tubular pile is driven into the ground, the ground will enter within the open lower end of the tube and thereby exert a pressure resisting downward movement of the pile, where a lesser pressure on the pile per se is desired than can be obtained by extending the jacket over the outer surface of the pile for the entire length to which the pile is driven into the ground, the cup 14 may be extended upwardly within the pile to any desired distance. Where the cup is formed by swaging or lapping this may be difficult, and a jacket extending upwardly within the tubular pile may be provided by welding or otherwise joining two concentric cylinders between which the tubular pile may be fitted. This may be done as shown in Figure 3 where outer jacket 111 is joined by welded ring 117 to inner jacket 119, and pile tits between the jackets 111 and 119, layers 120 of mastic being provided between the pile and the jackets.

The surfaces of jackets 11, 111, and 119 may be roughened as previously mentioned. The degree or depth of roughening will depend upon the particle size of the ground into which the pile is driven, a greater degree of roughening being required for ground of larger particle size. However, it is preferred that the roughening be not greater than that equivalent to No. (l0 sandpaper.

Figure 4 illustrates tubular pile 10 in place in an underwater bottom.

For solid piles or piles with driving points, the jacket may be provided as shown in Figure 5. The pile 21() may have a pointed end to assist in penetration into the ground and jacket 211 may be preformed to tit the pointed end or may be swaged on the pointed end. The coating 22t) of mastic may be provided by painting or spraying prior to fitting the jacket over the pile.

Figure 7 illustrates another form of pile provided with a jacket. The pile 310 is shaped in the form of the letter H and its outer surfaces are covered by the jacket 311. As shown in Figure 8, the jacket may comprise two sections fitting over the pile and meeting at the points 321. The two sections may be preformed and fitted over the pile or may be pressed from at sheets over the pile. The two sections of the jacket may be formed over the bottom edge of the pile to form a lip for pushing the jacket ahead of the pile when driving, or may be welded or otherwise joined to an H-shaped piece 322 as shown in Figure 9.

Having thus described my invention, it will be understood that such description has been given by way of illustration and example only and not by way of limitation, reference for the latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pile adapted to be driven into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length, a jacket relatively less massive than said pile snugly surrounding and closed over said pile at the driven end thereof and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to about half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, and a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said pile.

2. In combination, a pile adapted to be driven into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length, a jacket relatively less massive than said pile snugly surrounding and closed over said pile at the driven end thereof and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, and a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said pile.

3. In combination, a pile adapted to be driven into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length, a jacket relatively less massive than said pile snugly surrounding said pile at the driven end thereof and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to about half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, a closure on said jacket covering the driven end of said pile, and a layer of substantially soft,

n cn-cementing material between said jacket and said p 4. In combination, a pile adapted to be driven into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length, a jacket relatively less massive than said pile snugly surrounding said pile at the driven end thereof and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, a closure on said jacket covering the driven end of said pile, and a layer of substantially soft, ntn-cementing material between said jacket and said p1 e.

5. In combination, a tubular pile, a jacket surrounding said pile at the driven end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said pile, and a cup on said jacket covering the driven end of said pile.

6. In combination, a tubular pile, a jacket surrounding the outer surface of said pile in substantially nonadhering relationship from the driven end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, another jacket surrounding the inner surface of said pile in substantially non-adhering relationship from the driven end of said pile and extending along the inner surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, and a closure between said jackets covering the driven end of said pile.

7. In combination, a tubular pile, a jacket surrounding the outer surface of said pile from the driven end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said outer surface of said pile, another jacket surrounding the inner surface of said pile from the driven end of said pile and extending along the inner surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said inner surface of said pile, and a closure between said jackets covering the driven end of said pile.

8. In combination, an H-shaped pile, a jacket surrounding said pile in substantially non-adhering relationship at the driving end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, and a closure on said jacket covering the driving end of said pile.

9. In combination, an H-shaped pile, a jacket surrounding in substantially non-adhering relationship said pile at the driving end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, said jacket comprising two sections shaped to conform to the shape of said pile and the edges thereof meeting laterally along said pile, and a closure on said jacket covering the driving end of said pile.

l0. In combination, an H-shaped pile, a jacket surrounding said pile in substantially non-adhering relationship at the driving end of said pile and extending along the outer surface of said pile for a distance equal to at least half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground, said jacket comprising two sections shaped to conform to the shape of said pile and the edges thereof meeting laterally along said pile, a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said pile, and a closure on said jacket covering the driving end of said pile.

ll. In combination, an H-shaped pile, a jacket surrounding said pile in substantially non-adhering relationship for its entire length, said jacket comprising two sections shaped to conform to the shape of said pile and the edges thereof meeting laterally along said pile, a layer of substantiallv soft, non-cementing material between said jacket and said pile, and a closure integrally joining said sections and covering the driving end of said pile.

l2. A process for driving and removing piles in soft ground comprising covering a surface portion of a pile with a layer of a substantially soft, non-cementing material, covering the driven end and at least a portion of the length of said pile with a jacket over said material, driving said pile into a position into the ground for a distance with respect to the length of said jacket such that the pulling force necessary to remove said pile from its position in the ground Will be less than the force supplied by the pressure of the ground supporting said pile, and subsequently removing said pile from its position in the ground by applying an upward pulling force thereto.

13. A process for driving and removing piles in soft ground where the pulling force required to remove said piles from said ground after being driven therein Will be at least equal to the weight load capable of being carried by said piles comprising covering a surface portion of a pile with a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material, covering the driven end and at least'a portion of the length of said pile with a jacket over said material, fastening said jacket to said pile by means of light fastenings which will break upon application of a pulling force upon said pile less than that required to remove said pile from said ground, driving said pile into a position into the ground for a distance with respect to the length of said jacket such that the pulling force necessary to remove said pile from its position in the ground will be less than the force supplied by the pressure of the ground supporting said pile, and subsequently removing said pile from its position in the ground by applying an upward pulling force thereto.

14. A process for driving a pile into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length comprising covering the outer surface of said pile for a distance from one end thereof equal to about half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground with a layer of substantially soft, non-cementing material, covering the outer surface of said pile from the same end thereof for a distance equal to about half the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground with a jacket over said substantially soft, noncementing material, said jacket extending over the driven end of and being relatively less massive than said pile, and forcing said pile into the ground for a distance not greater than about twice the length of said jacket.

15. A process for driving a pile into the ground for a predetermined portion of its length comprising covering the outer surface of said pile for a distance from one end thereof equal to about the length said pile is t0 be driven into the ground with a layer of substantially soft, noncementing material, covering the outer surface of said pile from the same end thereof for a distance equal to about the distance said pile is to be driven into the ground with a jacket over said substantially soft, non-cementing material, said jacket extending over the driven end of and being relatively less massive than said pile, and forcing said pile into the ground for a distancek equal to about the length of said jacket.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 226,664 Kirkup Apr. 20, 1880 1,143,645 ORourke June 22, 1915 1,368,896 Chambley Feb. 15, 1921 2,211,375 Greulich e- Aug. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,239 Great Britain of 1889 19,235 Austria of 1905 67,378 Switzerland of 1914 276,796 Germany July 18, 1914 4,648 Netherlands Dec. 12, 1918 370,838 Germany Mar. 22, 1923 

